Dark Souls 2: 10 Reasons It's Your Ultimate Test As A Gamer

9. No Matter How Strong You Are, You're Always Vulnerable

In a very dividing move for long-time fans, FromSoft have taken a leaf out of Demon's Souls' book and implemented a reduction in health upon death, meaning every time you die you lose 10% of your health down to a minimum of 50%. This can be recovered by using a Human Effigy item which will return you from being 'Hollow' and back to human form, but these are rare and should be used sparingly. Resistance to poison, toxic and curse afflictions have been reduced as well. It is now far easier to be inflicted and the effects are devastating. In Dark Souls, poison would chip away at your health slowly and eventually kill you, but here poison will destroy you in under two minutes unless you get to a bonfire or use an item to cure it. Lastly, if an enemy breaks your guard, you are left vulnerable in a very bad way. Say you are defending a series of blows which empty your stamina bar, you will be knocked backwards with your shield flailing widely from the blow for a good few seconds, leaving you entirely open for attack. In regular combat this isn't usually a problem as most enemies won't always attack during that window, but against other real players it's a surefire way to guarantee a quick death.